Donald Trump: ‘I will totally accept’ election results ‘if i win’

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DELAWARE, Ohio — Donald Trump said Thursday he will accept the results of next months election — if he wins, a caveat that again threatens to undermine the sanctity of the most fundamental democratic exercise.

“I would like to promise and pledge to all of my voters and supporters and to all of the people of the United States that I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election,” the Republican presidential nominee told supporters at a rally in Delaware, Ohio, his first comment since the final presidential debate Wednesday.

After pausing for effect, he said, “… if I win.”

Trump was widely panned by Republicans and Democrats alike after the debate during which he refused to pledge to accept the results of the election, regardless of the winner.

Donald Trump is saying he won’t commit to honoring the results of November’s election because he wants to reserve his right to file a legal challenge “in the case of a questionable result.”

Trump, speaking in Ohio on Thursday, said “of course I would accept a clear election result.” But he stressed that he was not sure he would receive one, citing misleading statistics on voter fraud. He alleged without evidence that Hillary Clinton’s campaign was trying to “rig” the election.

“We want fairness during the election. This is having nothing to do with me but having to do with the future of our country. We have to have fairness,” Trump said.